How to position your market area as a candidate for the list of "Great Neighborhoods"

If you watch the hit NBC show, Parks and Recreation, you probably cringe every time Leslie Knopes declares the city of Pawnee to be the best place to live in the USA.

I mean, come on, their web site suggests you go check out the tree that fell on Plymouth Road because it… looks like a crocodile.

In fact, they are going to leave it there for a week so all the townspeople can get a chance to experience the “tree-o-dile.”

If that’s not enough, one of the most popular celebrities in the town is a dead miniature horse.

Of course, in reality, the fictional Pawnee would probably not make the list of the  “10 Best Neighborhoods” recently announced by the American Planning Association.

But your neighborhood probably wouldn’t make it either.

Don’t despair. We have a solution for you. It’s SpatialMatch, our map-based lifestyle search engine that helps you transform any neighborhood into a winner.

If you are like me, you are always suspect of these “Best Places to Live” lists. They act like these locales are something special because they have great bike paths, a cool micro-brew pub downtown and maybe a neat place to rock-climb nearby.

The truth of the matter is that nearly every town in America has fantastic qualities. Every town has a place where people gather, perhaps a nice park with shade trees and benches.

And which town does not have an historic building? They all do. Cool architecture – there’s  got to be a building somewhere in your area that is unique with lots of character.

Landmarks, heck, even a big ball of twine attracts visitors.

Here’s some other criteria used by the APA to determine a “Great Neighborhood”:

  1. Has a variety of functional attributes that contribute to a resident’s day-to-day living (i.e. residential, commercial, or mixed-uses).
  2. Accommodates multi-modal transportation (i.e. pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers).
  3. Has design and architectural features that are visually interesting.
  4. Encourages human contact and social activities.
  5. Promotes community involvement and maintains a secure environment.
  6. Promotes sustainability and responds to climatic demands.
  7. Has a memorable character.

Lots of room for interpretation there.

Where does the SpatialMatch tool come in? Well, you can create a visual representation on SpatialMatch showing all the great characteristics of your particular neighborhood near the properties you are selling.

Using the lifestyle search features, show the locations of the best parks, historic buildings, interesting landmarks, highest-rated restaurants and popular community centers.

In essence, use this 21st century technology embedded on your web site to build your own best neighborhood.

Call it, (Your Town’s) “Great Neighborhood Features.”

Post a link on your web site. People will check it out.

Post a link on your Facebook page – your neighbors (and potential clients) will appreciate your act of civic pride.

Tweet it.

Email the link to relocation prospects – let them know you will help them overcome their anxiety of moving to a new area by pointing out all the lifestyle amenities that exist there.

Promote it to potential sellers. Show them you have the resources (SpatialMatch) to position their home and their neighborhood as the place to be.

Don’t let these “Best Places” lists get the best of you.

Using SpatialMatch’s extensive database, just like Leslie does for Pawnee, create an aura for your town that shows your area deserves to be at the top of any list.

For a link to the ANA “Great Places” page and the factors they use, click here.

For a demo of how SpatialMatch can make you the best broker or agent in your town, click here.